Shiferaw Jarsso
Honorable Guests,
Respected Participants,
Ladies & Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Ministry of Water Resources and my own behalf it gives me a great pleasure to be here with you at the opening of this important workshop on “Water and Land Management Research and Capacity Building Priorities in Ethiopia.”
As it is widely known, Ethiopia is blessed with huge water resources potential but due to adverse problems, the country could not benefit from these rich resources. The major factors constraining the utilization of our water resources include:
Climatic change, Population growth, environmental degradation and lack of harmonized intervention have also been affecting both the water and resources adversely. This is actually the challenge we face and hence needs immediate intervention and action from all stakeholders including government, external support agencies, NGO’s and others.
To tackle the challenges in a systematic way, the Ministry of Water Resources has started a water sector reform programme some seven years back. After a rigorous consultative process involving all stakeholders right from the grass root level, the Ministry of Water Resources has completed the preparation of a visionary Water management policy, water sector strategy and water sector development programme. The UNDP has played a key role in supporting these programmes.
In Addition, the Ministry of Water Resources has completed integrated River Basin Master Plan Studies in five of the twelve basins. Further studies are under way for two other basins. The basic objectives of the Master Plan Studies carried out by the Ministry is to “Prepare an investment plan which would contribute to the sustainable development and poverty reduction through optimum possible adverse environmental impacts taking the water resources at the center of the development”. Conducting such studies would no doubt provide sufficient information on the optimum utilization of our water resources.
In addition to the commitment of the Government of Ethiopia’s to provide limited support, we have expectations that our external partners will help us in implementing the recommendations of the studies.
The Ministry of Water Resources is in the process of establishing the Basine Authorities through the necessary legal arrangements, considering these as excellent tools useful for implementing the master plan studies.
Moreover, positive developments are being observed on the utilization of the Nile water for the benefit of all the riparian countries.
Capacity building has been given top priority by the Government of Ethiopia. Without building our capacity it would be difficult to implement any programme in a sustainable manner. Coupled with building capacity, undertaking of research activities becomes extremely important to share experience with others, analyse our situation and come up with valuable recommendations.
We realize that this is an important instrument for developing the water sector. To this effect, the Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission, together with the Ministry of Water Resources, has conducted a through research activities in the water sector. We will soon start implementing the study.
The Ministry of Water Resources has also newly organized a Research & Development Department to better address the related problems of our sector.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Before I conclude my remarks, I would like to take this opportunity to forward my sincere appreciation to the staff of International Water Management Institute and International Livestock Research Institute, who have devoted their time and have shown keen interest in making this workshop a reality. I also hope that this sprit of co-operation would continue in sustainable manner. I would also like to assure the support of the Ministry of Water Resources would definitely continue in the years head.
Furthermore, I would also like to thank all other institutions and colleagues who have greatly contributed to the convening of this workshop.
Finally, wishing you happy discussion time, I declare the workshop is officially opened.
I thank you!